Petunia plant named ‘DOPETSWEEWHI97’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named ‘Dopetsweewhi97’, characterized by its semi-upright and uniformly mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; large pure white-colored flowers; and good container and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia X hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOPETSWEEWHI97’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant, botanically known as Petunia X hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dopetsweewhi97’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact, freely branching and early-flowering Petunia plants with numerous attractive flowers.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2020 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selection of Petunia X hybrida identified as code number TT19-K0289, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Petunia X hybrida identified as code number TT20-K0862, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Petunia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Get many in May, 2022.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2022 has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dopetsweewhi97’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dopetsweewhi97’ as a new and distinct Petunia plant:

-   -   1. Semi-upright and uniformly mounding plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Large pure white-colored flowers.     -   6. Good container and garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in growth habit as plants of the new Petunia are more vigorous than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower shape as flowers of plants of the new Petunia are more rounded than flowers of plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of Petunia X hybrida ‘Revolution White’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,768. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia and ‘Revolution White’ differ primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more upright than and not as         trailing as plants of ‘Revolution White’.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia have shorter leaves than plants of         ‘Revolution White’.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia are more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Revolution White’.     -   4. Plants of the new Petunia have larger flowers than plants of         ‘Revolution White’.     -   5. Flowers of plants of the new Petunia are more rounded than         and not as ruffled as flowers of plants of ‘Revolution White’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia plant.

The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dopetsweewhi97’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the spring and summer in 22-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Petunia production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18 C and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were twelve weeks old when the photograph was taken and 25 weeks old when the description was taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, Fifth Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia X hybrida ‘Dopetsweewhi97’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Petunia X             hybrida identified as code number TT19-K0289, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Petunia X             hybrida identified as code number TT20-K0862, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at             temperatures about 20 C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at             temperatures about 20 C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures about 20 C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 20 C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; close to 155B in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Semi-upright and uniformly mounding             plant habit; freely branching habit with about seven to             eight primary lateral branches each with about eight to nine             secondary branches developing after pinching; vigorous             growth habit and moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 21             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 26             cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 66 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 38 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 4 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2 cm.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to somewhat outwardly spreading.         -   Texture and luster.—Pubescent; semi-glossy.         -   Color, developing and developed.—Close to 144A to 144B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate; after flowering,             opposite; simple.         -   Length.—About 3.6 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Spatulate.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent;             leathery; semi-glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 141B; venation, close to 139D. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 141C; venation,             close to 139D.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong; firm. Texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper             surface: Close to 138A. Color, lower surface: Close to 138B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually             about 480 flowers and flower buds developing per plant             during the flowering season; flowers face mostly upright to             outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously during             the spring and summer in Germany; early flowering habit,             plants typically beginning flowering about nine weeks after             planting.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about two to three             days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 4.4 cm. Diameter: About 7.9 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Rippled; semi-glossy.             Color: Close to 149B.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5.7 cm by 6.1 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 5.8 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 1.2 cm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 3 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter, proximally.—About 8.7 mm.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal lobe length (from             throat): About 2.9 cm. Petal lobe width: About 3.2 cm. Petal             shape: Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Obtuse. Petal margin:             Entire; slightly undulate. Petal texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Rippled, glabrous; semi-glossy. Throat             texture and luster: Rippled; semi-glossy. Tube texture and             luster: Rippled; semi-glossy. Color: Petal lobe, when             opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 157D. Petal             lobe, fully opened, upper surface: Close to 155C; venation,             close to 149A; color does not change with subsequent             development. Petal lobe, fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 155D; venation, close to 149D; color does not change with             subsequent development. Flower throat: Distally, close to             157A and proximally, close to 145A; venation, close to 145A.             Flower tube: Close to 150C; venation, close to 149A.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Five sepals fused at the base forming a             tubular star-shaped calyx. Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter:             About 2.5 mm. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Rounded. Base: Decurrent.             Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: When opening             and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 139A. When opening             and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 139B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.6 cm. Diameter: About 1.3 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: Close to 143C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.             Filament length: About 2.1 cm. Filament color: Close to             157D. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Ovate. Anther             color: Close to 155A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color:             Close to 158A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil             length: About 2.5 cm. Style length: About 1.9 cm. Style             color: Close to N144D. Stigma diameter: About 2 mm. Stigma             shape: Rounded. Stigma color: Close to 144B. Ovary color:             Close to N144C. Fruits: Quantity produced per plant: About             68 during the flowering season. Length: About 5.5 mm.             Diameter: About 5 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             Close to 161A. Seeds: Quantity per flower: About 80. Length:             About 0.3 mm. Diameter: About 0.3 mm. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Close to 200A. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain, temperatures     ranging from about 5 C to about 40 C and to be suitable for USDA     Hardiness Zone 11. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Petunia have     not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Petunia plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘Dopetsweewhi97’ as illustrated and described. 